All, True Believers, just a few days to go. Welcome back from the ‘Bad Times’ – that period from the end of one season and the start of the next (acknowledging that ‘the girls’ have been hard at it for some weeks now). And finishing so well at the Grannie, close but just not close enough, we’ve all been looking forward to the season.Was I disappointed at how we finished last season? Of course, but look where we came from. Even those sometimes a little critical of Eddie & Bucks were quieter. As a starting point have a listen to Bucks on the way forward – ‘This is our story’ https://www.collingwoodfc.com.au/video/2019-01-08/this-is-our-story-buckley.This is just a bit of fun amongst ‘family’. All are welcome to comment, even to disagree. Like amongst all families, relationships can become a trifle difficult at times, but in families everyone can have a view. Pls contribute. Your views will always be welcome. Excuses like “I don’t know enough about the game” will not be accepted. All the addressees are ‘family’, with a couple of exceptions who are actual family but barrack for another team.If you know anyone else who should be included just send me their email address.What are we looking for and will we get it?There is no doubt in my mind that we can take the Premiership. Quite honestly, if we’d won it last year I would have been surprised. Then again, at the end of Q1 I didn’t know what to think.A successful 2019 season for me (not in order, of course) will include:
- Beating Geelong (R1 – 22 March);
- Beating Carlton (R8 – 11 May);
- Beating Essendon (Anzac Day R6 and R23); and
- Winning the GF.
I’m happy to sacrifice the first four if we take the GF.I’d like us, for successive years, to win the Rising Star award jointly with Quaynor and T. Brown. I’d like Howe and Moore to jointly win the Mark of the Year.Individual performance – others? Brownlow? What are you looking for?How are we looking?The List is very strong based on our Midfield, our small Forwards and a pretty solid Backline. It is better than last year’s with the return of Beams and with the expected recovery of a number of injuries late last year. Moore and Elliott (at different ends of the field) appear over their hamstrings and we may see a shift by De Goey more to the Centre with Elliott Forward. And both Browns are getting some very big plaudits (Bucks: “Tyler Brown – similar to Nat Fyfe“; as is Quaynor, already.I’m really happy with the majority of players though think Reid needs to lift (just saw he is injured) and goodness knows how Scharenberg, Wells and Dunn will fit in when they recover. De Goey and Stephenson both look okay for R1.The Perth practice match was played in very hot conditions with an interesting graph recording the changing momentum during the game go to https://www.afl.com.au/match-centre/jlt-community-series/2019/1/fre-v-coll. I think it reflected the Pies capacity to turn the game around after a poor start or a period when their opponent ‘got going’. It was a good run. Thanks Elizabeth for the reminder after the bounce and the expert opinion. I am consistently concerned about some of the numbers (as always) but would be the first to admit that looking at these for a whole game can be misleading (and I don’t have the breakdown by Quarter). In Perth we won the Hit Outs 50 to 32 (well done Grundy; but I note Roughead hasn’t been used in the ruck in either game) but lost the Clearances 38 to 41. In Morwell, similarly, we won the Hit Outs 37 to 30 but lost the Clearances 27 to 36. With the supposed best Midfield in the competition our Clearances should at least match the Hit Out dominance, both in the Centre and at stoppages.
The other key statistics are the Inside 50 numbers and Marks Inside 50. This is a reflection of our passage to Goal – and shouldn’t simply reflect a giant up and under (even with Cox performing). In Perth we lost the Inside 50s 46 to 60 but won the Marks Inside 50s 12 to 6. In Morwell Inside 50s were close (we lost 55 to 58) but won the Marks Inside 50s 17 to 10. Much more effective drive Forward.And I love Varcoe’s involvement – always in the right spot and the right time doing the right thing for the team – both games (Goal scoring in Game 1 and that smother in Game 2). Who are your faves?Round 1Friday night at the G. 22 March; bounce 7.50pm.We’ve lost the last two against Geelong – R8/2018 and R22/2017 but have managed to avoid them in any recent Finals. Even though the teams haven’t been announced the betting has us favourites $1.65 to $2.20.GeelongMy bête noire – each of my siblings barracks for Geelong. I went to school in Geelong for eight years (for those slightly older, David Clarke was a year ahead of me at school). Beating Geelong ranks, for me, higher than beating Carlton.Varied results in the JLT Community Series – a Loss against the Eagles (65 / 99) in Perth but a pretty substantial Win over Essendon (101 / 73). The surprises were Darcy Fort in the ruck and a collection of newbies in their Forward Line (Rohan / Dalhaus) assisting Hawkins and Esava Ratugolea (Sav; who spent much of last year injured) plus Ablett assisting (look at his Goal Assists). No surprise in Selwood and Dangerfield in the Midfield. I can’t see much change in their Backline (unfortunately for them). In each game Geelong started quickly. Our challenge will be to match that – remember our Win over them at the MCG a couple of years ago when we had seven Goals scored before they recorded one in Q1?Key areas will be to dominate the Midfield. We have been hugely successful in Greenwood tagging Selwood out of the game. I rate Selwood far higher than Dangerfield.They’ve also had a 15 day break, not that I think that’s of any real significance.UsAs above, we’re looking pretty good.Things to do:
- Start quickly;
- Dominate the Midfield – tag Selwood and turn the taps into Clearances (particularly at stoppages around the ground);
- Continue to control our entry into the 50 with multiple, varied entry points;
- Shut down their key Forwards and their small Forwards; and
- Chase and tackle.
Your view?A Win in R1 is just as significant as in R23.TV. Yep, free to air on Channel 7, from 7.30.Weather. Maximum of 24 degrees during the day, broken cloud cover, very slight chance of rain. Expect it to be dry and still. But, of course, it is Melbourne.Prediction. I predict a Pies Win (don’t I always) by 47 points. Elliott, Stephenson and De Goey each get three Goals; Cox has six Goal Assists. BOG Beams with 39 disposals. Crowd – 89,000. What do you think?Anyone going? I know of one of our True Believers is going and would welcome a Ground Report? I’m also aware of one of our addressees who is not a True Believer is going with his kids and would also welcome a Report?Other TeamsCollingwood has a total of six teams:
- AFL.
- AFLW
- VFL
- VFLW
- VWFL
- Netball
I am not going to cover each of the other teams. They are well addressed on the Pies’ website.Other Canberra Sports. As I’m no longer in Canberra, I’m not going to address these either, except for the Giants’ games (see below).Giants – Canberra games, for Canberra residents’ (plus maybe people who live in the surrounds like Harden/Murrumburrah – Google it) diary:
- Fremantle – R5 – 20 April;
- St Kilda – R7 – 4 May; and
- Hawthorn – R21 – 9 August.
Other:
- New Rules. I haven’t addressed these because I haven’t really had a good look at them yet. More to come.
- Eddie Watch. All quiet, which is always concerning.
- Ex – Pie. Marsh, after a couple of years with East Fremantle appears likely to turn up for St Kilda in R1. Good luck to him. I always believed he had something and was disappointed when he left.
- Footy Almanac. This epistle is also published in the Footy Almanac (without the email addresses of course). It can prompt some external discussion. Go to https://www.footyalmanac.com.au/. If you are interested in a bit of history, type “Hooke” into the search engine and a few years of reporting will appear.
True Believers, enjoy.Go Pies.Cam
Cam Hooke’s Collingwood Life – Footy: we’re back. Go Pies
March 14, 2019 by 3 Comments
The Alamanac’s editorial team welcomes you back for the new season, Cam. Love your passion and optimism even if this member of your extended ‘family’ will count the 2019 season as a success if the Bombers down your Pies at least once! Blow the siren!
Thanks for the welcome back.
I freely acknowledge other supporters’ aims and objectives. It’s what makes our competition great; not just the great game itself. In fact I’ve taken to printing John’s email and throwing darts at his “Go Cats” message to us all. And I do remember the game against Geelong a couple of years back – I haven’t looked up my prediction however I was spot on,unlike every expert commentator in the game, with quite clear reasoning.
Best for 2019. And message for John, “yes, I’ll get around to the Membership thing eventually”.
Cheers.
Sucked me in you did, Cam. Made me a true believer only to dash my dream at the last minute…
However, after the dream comes the nightmare, barracking for those plucky little battlers Hawthorn and Caaaarlton! Caaaarlton! to overhaul the mighty Tigers. No good will come of this, God will punish me, Walter…